Ajay Jadeja, the former Indian cricket team captain, has been declared the next Jamsaheb of Nawanagar, now known as Jamnagar, in Gujarat.
The decision was announced on October 11, 2024, by the incumbent Jam Saheb, Shatrusalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji Jadeja.
The announcement, made on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, was framed with historical significance by Jam Saheb Shatrusalyasinhji, who expressed, ‘Today, I too feel victorious as Ajay Jadeja graciously accepts to be my successor and the next Jamsaheb of Nawanagar, which I truly believe is a great boon for the people of Jamnagar.’
Ajay Jadeja – Cricketer and Jamsaheb
Ajay Jadeja, born into the royal family of Jamnagar in 1971, has not only carried the legacy of his ancestors on the cricket field but is now set to continue it on the throne. His selection as the heir comes as no surprise given his lineage; however, it adds a modern twist to the royal succession, again intertwining cricketing glory with royal heritage.
The royal family of Jamnagar boasts a cricketing legacy that has significantly influenced Indian cricket. The Ranji Trophy, named after one of Ajay’s ancestors, KS Ranjitsinhji, and the Duleep Trophy, named after KS Duleepsinhji, are testaments to this heritage.
Ajay Jadeja, whose cricketing career spanned 15 Test matches and 196 ODIs, during which he scored over 5,000 runs, adds another leaf to this illustrious tree.
Jadeja’s cricketing prowess was not just about runs and wickets but also about memorable moments like his crucial innings against Pakistan in the 1996 Cricket World Cup quarter-final. He returned to cricket as a mentor for the Afghanistan team during the 2023 ICC World Cup.